Fastest-growing counties in Oregon

Written by:
February 23, 2021
Stuart Seeger // Wikicommons

Fastest-growing counties in Oregon

From 2018 to 2019, the U.S. population grew by .48%, its slowest rate in 100 years. Declining births, increasing deaths largely due to the graying Baby Boomer population, and a crackdown on immigration have contributed to many states seeing net population losses in recent years.

But in other pockets of the country, populations are growing. These shifts can be due to job opportunities, high quality of life, easy commutability to job centers, low rents, or any combination of these or other factors. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Oregon using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2019, based on 5-year estimates.

A county typically sees population growth as a “bedroom community” (a municipality with an atypically large commuting population) to a large city. These communities are typically quieter than their feeder cities, offer lower rents and a higher quality of living, and are remote enough to be immune to the feeder city’s crime, traffic, and crowds. Keep reading to see if your home county made the list.

1 / 30
Tomas Nevesely // Shutterstock

#30. Wheeler County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: -28
--- #1,597 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: -1.9%
--- #33 among counties in Oregon, #1,981 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 1,415
--- #36 largest county in Oregon, #3,086 largest county nationwide
2 / 30
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Wallowa County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +85
--- #1,444 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +1.2%
--- #26 among counties in Oregon, #1,335 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 7,004
--- #33 largest county in Oregon, #2,669 largest county nationwide
3 / 30
Tedder // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Gilliam County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +147
--- #1,385 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +8.5%
--- #9 among counties in Oregon, #501 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 1,878
--- #34 largest county in Oregon, #3,059 largest county nationwide
4 / 30
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Morrow County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +191
--- #1,348 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +1.7%
--- #25 among counties in Oregon, #1,252 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 11,303
--- #29 largest county in Oregon, #2,334 largest county nationwide
5 / 30
Manuela Durson // Shutterstock

#26. Curry County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +239
--- #1,307 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #27 among counties in Oregon, #1,357 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 22,650
--- #27 largest county in Oregon, #1,694 largest county nationwide
6 / 30
Debbie Tegtmeier // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Coos County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +367
--- #1,224 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #29 among counties in Oregon, #1,447 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 63,686
--- #16 largest county in Oregon, #835 largest county nationwide
7 / 30
Bobjgalindo // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Klamath County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +401
--- #1,204 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #28 among counties in Oregon, #1,440 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 66,921
--- #15 largest county in Oregon, #793 largest county nationwide
8 / 30
Williamborg // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Union County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +964
--- #989 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +3.8%
--- #22 among counties in Oregon, #941 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 26,337
--- #22 largest county in Oregon, #1,552 largest county nationwide
9 / 30
USFWS Headquarters' photostream // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Tillamook County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,189
--- #935 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +4.7%
--- #21 among counties in Oregon, #829 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 26,389
--- #21 largest county in Oregon, #1,548 largest county nationwide
10 / 30
Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Wasco County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,435
--- #878 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.8%
--- #18 among counties in Oregon, #716 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 26,130
--- #23 largest county in Oregon, #1,560 largest county nationwide
11 / 30
Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Crook County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,496
--- #862 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +7.0%
--- #14 among counties in Oregon, #614 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 23,011
--- #26 largest county in Oregon, #1,679 largest county nationwide
12 / 30
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Hood River County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,503
--- #860 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.9%
--- #15 among counties in Oregon, #617 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 23,209
--- #25 largest county in Oregon, #1,670 largest county nationwide
13 / 30
English: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Douglas County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,905
--- #791 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +1.8%
--- #24 among counties in Oregon, #1,241 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 109,114
--- #9 largest county in Oregon, #554 largest county nationwide
14 / 30
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Jefferson County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,955
--- #784 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +9.0%
--- #8 among counties in Oregon, #463 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 23,607
--- #24 largest county in Oregon, #1,658 largest county nationwide
15 / 30
English: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Clatsop County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,244
--- #739 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.1%
--- #16 among counties in Oregon, #688 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 39,102
--- #19 largest county in Oregon, #1,200 largest county nationwide
16 / 30
Gancayco // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Umatilla County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,325
--- #730 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +3.1%
--- #23 among counties in Oregon, #1,034 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 77,129
--- #14 largest county in Oregon, #718 largest county nationwide
17 / 30
Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Columbia County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,369
--- #725 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +4.8%
--- #20 among counties in Oregon, #816 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 51,375
--- #17 largest county in Oregon, #969 largest county nationwide
18 / 30
EncMstr // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Lincoln County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,690
--- #693 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.9%
--- #17 among counties in Oregon, #711 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 48,547
--- #18 largest county in Oregon, #1,011 largest county nationwide
19 / 30
Joseph Novak // Wikicommons

#12. Josephine County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +4,079
--- #587 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.0%
--- #19 among counties in Oregon, #803 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 86,251
--- #12 largest county in Oregon, #665 largest county nationwide
20 / 30
cpaulfell // Shutterstock

#11. Benton County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +6,949
--- #469 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +8.3%
--- #10 among counties in Oregon, #514 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 91,107
--- #11 largest county in Oregon, #644 largest county nationwide
21 / 30
M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Yamhill County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +7,901
--- #441 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +8.2%
--- #11 among counties in Oregon, #525 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 104,831
--- #10 largest county in Oregon, #573 largest county nationwide
22 / 30
Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Polk County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +9,292
--- #412 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +12.6%
--- #4 among counties in Oregon, #269 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 83,037
--- #13 largest county in Oregon, #683 largest county nationwide
23 / 30
Jmabel // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Linn County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +10,733
--- #374 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +9.4%
--- #7 among counties in Oregon, #439 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 125,048
--- #8 largest county in Oregon, #505 largest county nationwide
24 / 30
Little Mountain 5 // Wikicommons

#7. Jackson County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +15,987
--- #304 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +8.0%
--- #12 among counties in Oregon, #538 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 216,574
--- #6 largest county in Oregon, #307 largest county nationwide
25 / 30
Lauram12345 // Wikicommons

#6. Lane County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +26,184
--- #210 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +7.5%
--- #13 among counties in Oregon, #567 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 373,340
--- #4 largest county in Oregon, #185 largest county nationwide
26 / 30
Edmund Garman // Flickr

#5. Marion County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +29,747
--- #183 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +9.6%
--- #6 among counties in Oregon, #429 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 339,641
--- #5 largest county in Oregon, #205 largest county nationwide
27 / 30
Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Deschutes County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +31,683
--- #173 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +20.5%
--- #1 among counties in Oregon, #97 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 186,251
--- #7 largest county in Oregon, #351 largest county nationwide
28 / 30
Mrgadget51 // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Clackamas County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +39,984
--- #128 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +10.8%
--- #5 among counties in Oregon, #355 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 410,463
--- #3 largest county in Oregon, #172 largest county nationwide
29 / 30
M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Washington County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +72,816
--- #67 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +14.1%
--- #2 among counties in Oregon, #218 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 589,481
--- #2 largest county in Oregon, #112 largest county nationwide
30 / 30
Stuart Seeger // Wikicommons

#1. Multnomah County

- 2010 to 2019 population change: +92,570
--- #52 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +13.0%
--- #3 among counties in Oregon, #254 among all counties nationwide
- 2019 population: 804,606
--- #1 largest county in Oregon, #76 largest county nationwide

Trending Now